The Ministry of Health and Welfare today launched a dedicated account to receive private donations for disaster relief after flooding in Hualien County.
Following heavy rains brought by Super Typhoon Ragasa, the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) barrier lake on Tuesday afternoon burst, flooding Hualien County’s Guangfu Township (光復).
As of 10am today, 15 people had died, 32 were injured and 31 were still missing, the National Fire Agency said.
Photo courtesy of a resident
People can donate via money transfer or LinePay, or at any major convenience store chain.
Money transfer
Domestic donations:
Bank name: 土地銀行長春分行 (code: 005)
Account name: 財團法人賑災基金會
Account number: 102-005-201-966
Overseas donations:
Bank name: Land Bank of Taiwan Changchuen Branch
Address: No. 156, Changchun Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei City 10459, Taiwan (ROC)
Account name: Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief
Account number: 102-005-201-966
SWIFT Code: LBOTTWTP102
LinePay
Press the "donation" button, and choose the "Mataian River Barrier Lake Disaster Fundraising Program" (馬太鞍溪堰塞湖災害專案) option.
Major convenience store chains
Select "Mataian River Barrier Lake Disaster Fundraising Program" on a 7-Eleven ibon, FamilyMart FamiPort, Hi-Life Life-ET, or OKmart OK.go machine. Follow the prompts to enter your details and donation amount, print the payment slip and pay at the counter.
Note: not all machines have an English-language option.
Donations are to be accepted until Oct. 24 with the aim of raising NT$500 million (US$16.44 million), the ministry said.
The Hualien County government is also accepting donations of supplies, including clothing, blankets, mats, dry food, camp beds, sleeping bags, medicine, slippers, beverages, period products, diapers and toiletries.
Supplies can be delivered to the parking lot behind the Hualien Sugar Factory in Guangfu Township, the county government said, adding that the contact number is 0966-58902.
Supplies can also be delivered to Chungcheng Gym at No. 53, Gongyuan Rd, Hualien City, Hualien County, 970. The contact numbers are 0975-769072, 0937-910364 and 0937-909124, it said.
The ministry's Hospital and Social Welfare Organizations Administration Commission on Wednesday said that a medical station had been set up at Daquan Elementary School, while another at Dajin Elementary School was providing psychological support and community care.
Those without national health insurance would also have access to the services, it said.
President William Lai (賴清德), Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday pledged one month of their earnings to support relief efforts.
New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜), Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕), Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲), Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke (楊文科), Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin (鍾東錦), Nantou County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua (許淑華), Taitung County Magistrate Yao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴) and Penghu County Magistrate Chen Kuang-fu (陳光復) also pledged to donate to the cause.
Residents of Pingtung County's Hengchun Township (恆春) have been gathering supplies, including instant noodles and rice, and plan to deliver them on Saturday.
The Andrew Charity Association has also launched a relief program and arranged for 300 food boxes to be sent to the area, as well as diapers, baby formula, wet wipes and tissues.
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